Eric Smith was most recently the Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary (DAS) for Policy at the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA), where he oversaw $3 billion in investments to accelerate the production and delivery of new technologies, increase U.S. regions’ economic success and competitiveness in the global economy, and drive employer-driven workforce development. Earlier at EDA, Eric founded and built the Tech Hubs program, a key component of the CHIPS and Science Act. He has also served as the Chief Customer Officer of NASA’s SBIR/STTR Program, stood up EDA’s other technology- and innovation-centric programs, and worked in fintech and at software startups. He holds a BA in Computer Science and Mathematics from the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology and a JD from the Indiana University Maurer School of Law.